Facade grant program updated; DDA adopts changes for downtown area

Cheboygan City Manager Dale Stuart proposed new language to the Downtown Development Authority to steam line and revitalize the DDA Front and Rear Façade Rehabilitation Program at Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the board.

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By The Tribune Staff

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By The Tribune Staff

Posted Apr. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By The Tribune Staff

Posted Apr. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

CHEBOYGAN

Cheboygan City Manager Dale Stuart proposed new language to the Downtown Development Authority to steam line and revitalize the DDA Front and Rear Façade Rehabilitation Program at Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the board.

The program allows downtown businesses to apply for up to $1,000 for building facade improvements and upgrades.

The new language would authorize up to four new projects for funding through June 30, 2014. It also makes the grant more flexible, so that more businesses can use them for a larger range of work.

There has been limited interest in the facade improvement grant up to this point.

With the changes the DDA, will continue to review plans for compliance with the goals of the program before approving projects. The standards include:

1. A property and its facade may be used for any purpose consistent with existing structures in the downtown area.

2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved if appropriate to the current state of the area. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be discouraged.

3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings shall be discouraged.

4. Most properties change over time. Changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved if the changes are consistent with surrounding properties and the general theme of downtown.

5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property are encouraged to be preserved.

6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced when appropriate. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature should match the old visual qualities.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the language changes to encourage business participation.